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Meeting Invitation
Meeting Invitation


    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Cold brew coffee continues to be a hot trend. Recent market research shows an increase in sales of 580 percent between 2011 and 2016 as coffee drinkers have embraced the smooth flavor of cold brew.

    Cold brew is coffee made with cold water. It sounds simple, but making cold brew concentrate from ground coffee at home can be a messy and time-consuming process. Most devices on the market require 12 to 24 hours of steep time at room temperature to brew a coffee concentrate suitable for cold brew coffee, so serving cold brew coffee has traditionally required advance planning. But now a specialized coffee press allows cold brew coffee lovers to get their fix in a couple of minutes.

    By briskly stirring coffee grounds and room temperature water together in the AeroPress coffee maker, you can cut brewing time from many hours to just two minutes. Simply add finely ground coffee and room-temperature water, stir, press, and enjoy a cup of smooth, flavorful cold brew coffee.

    Another advantage of the AeroPress is a quick and easy cleanup. Unlike typical cold brewers, the AeroPress does not leave a large filter full of messy coffee grounds after brewing. It is designed to consolidate the used grounds and filter into a small, neat puck that pops out ready for composting.

    A huge advantage of cold brewing is it can be done where there is that no access to hot water. When traveling, hiking, biking, or doing other activities away from the home kitchen, there is almost always a source of water but often no way to heat it. However with a lightweight, portable AeroPress, it is easy to brew a cup of smooth rich cold brew using tap water in about two minutes.

    Not only does the AeroPress brew delicious hot coffee in addtion to cold brew, but as a multipurpose coffeemaker, it helps cut kitchen clutter by eliminating the need for separate machines.

    Visit aeropress.com for more information about how to enjoy cold brew (or hot) coffee with ease in the comfort of your home.

    Ref: Drinks - in Blogs
    76 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Americans may read thrillers and watch adventure movies, but their days aren't exactly fueled by pure adrenaline. They work, drive the kids to soccer practice, eat dinner, watch HBO -- but those with a handheld GPS can satisfy their thirst for adventure through modern day treasure hunts, or geocaching.

    Geocaching is a global treasure-hunting game. Someone hides an item, uses a GPS to determine its coordinates, and then posts the information online. Geocache-seekers then use their own GPS units to track down the geocache, usually a box or a small item and a logbook.

    The game sounds deceptively simple. While geocachers know the items' coordinates, reaching them might require a workout -- some locations require hiking and climbing, for example. Also, GPS units only take geocachers within 10 to 15 feet of the geocache, which is hidden to avoid accidental discovery by "Muggles" -; those uninitiated in the ways of geocaching.

    Geocaching.com, the largest Web site for geocachers to announce new geocaches and log their successes, lists over 1,000,000 geocaches in over 200 countries.

    The game has become so popular that GPS manufacturers are starting to design handheld GPS units specifically for geocaching. For example, the Magellan eXplorist GC (www.magellangps.com) includes a seamless connection to geocaching.com, a sunlight-readable color screen and a simple user interface to make geocaching a breeze. The unit is waterproof and comes pre-loaded with the coordinates of the most popular geocaches in the world. The GPS chipset promises 3-meter accuracy.

    Of course, the eXplorist GC also comes with standard outdoor features, including waypoint creation, a worldwide basemap, active tracking and a trip odometer.

    When geocachers find a geocache, they write their name in the logbook or exchange one of the items in the cache for one of equal value. Then they put the cache back in its original location, so other treasure-seekers can enjoy the thrill of the chase and, perhaps, discover a place previously unknown to them.

    For more information about the eXplorist GC, visit www.magellangps.com/eXploristGC/.

    Ref: Hiking - in Blogs
    67 0

    Bakhtawar Ahmed bakhto22
    Exploring the Charms of Nature through Tent Camping

    In our fast-paced world, where screens dominate our daily lives, there exists a longing for a simpler, more natural way of living. Tent camping offers a perfect retreat into the heart of nature, where modern distractions fade away, and the beauty of the outdoors takes center stage.

    Imagine waking up to the symphony of chirping birds, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, and the warm glow of the sunrise painting the sky. Tent camping allows you to immerse yourself fully in these experiences, providing a direct connection to the environment that is both humbling and rejuvenating.

    One of the most enchanting aspects of tent camping is its versatility. Whether you prefer the rugged terrain of mountain ranges, the tranquil shores of lakes, or the dense foliage of forests, there's a campsite to suit every preference. Each location offers its own unique charm and opportunities for exploration, from hiking trails that lead to breathtaking viewpoints to peaceful spots perfect for stargazing under clear night skies.

    Moreover, tent camping encourages a sense of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. As you pitch your tent and set up your campsite, you reconnect with basic survival skills and learn to appreciate the essentials. Cooking meals over a campfire or portable stove becomes a communal activity, fostering bonds with fellow campers and creating memories that last a lifetime.

    Beyond the physical benefits of fresh air and exercise, tent camping provides mental and emotional rejuvenation. Away from the constant buzz of notifications and emails, you can truly unwind and reset. The simplicity of life in nature allows for introspection and mindfulness, offering a chance to recharge your spirit and return to daily life with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.

    In essence, tent camping is more than just a recreational activity—it's a lifestyle that celebrates the beauty of our natural world and the joy of unplugging from the digital realm. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a deeper connection with nature, a tent camping vacation promises to deliver an unforgettable experience that nourishes the soul and leaves you longing for more outdoor escapades.



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    Bob Mccullough bobm


    How the National Media Messed Up the Mavs Predictions
    by Bob McCullough 6/14/24






    Go into the recent archives of any major sports site, and you'll find a lot of names who should be embarrassed about their predictions for the Mavs-Celtics series. And they're not just the names of those who happened to cover the Mavs.


    The prediction split was close to 50/50. Maybe 60/40 in favor of the C's, which felt reasonable going into the Finals. Now it seems a little ridiculous.


    So what went wrong? Let's take a closer look at why the national media especially fell for the Dallas storyline, for it embodies a lot of what's wrong with sportswriting today and NBA coverage in particular.


    **** Mavs Story Lines


    This one's at the top of the list. Writers love superstars, and the NBA's entire culture is built around them. The old ebony/ivory combination of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic was irresistable as a result, especially given the story lines.


    Start with Irving, a fascinating wack job who's been shooting his career in the foot for a long time now. After getting in trouble for spewing anti-Semitic nonsense, breaking up teams, getting coaches fired and conveniently missing games due to his anti-vax rhetoric, Irving somehow managed to resurrect his career and transform himself into a supposedly responsible NBA elder in Dallas. It's the ultimate redemption storyline.


    If you really believe that I have deeds to several bridges I can sell you, but in a basketball context Doncic may be even worse, which hardly seems possible. He's the most offensively gifted player of his generation, and yet, to use the words of Bob Cousy, he "looks like a truck driver."


    Which is Cooz-speak for Luka being fat and out of shape, especially for a professional athlete, and the Celtics have relentlessly exploited that flaw. Add in the fact that he goes after the refs on EVERY play, and he's pretty sickening to watch, even with his incredibly skill set. That doesn't stop the writers from relentlessly loving the highlight plays; that's what they do.


    J's Fatigue


    This one's right up there, too. NBA writers especially are sick of writing the same old rivalry stories about Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, i.e., who's better, who gets paid more, who cares more about winning vs endorsements and brand, and so on.


    Not surprisingly, the rest of us are just as sick of reading them. Even more so now that' they've become largely irrelevant. Whatever their differences were--and there likely were differences, rest assured--they've worked them out to get to within a game of their first title.


    ** hum.


    What Matters About the Mavs Previous Opponents


    This one hasn't been explored as much, but it's relevant. National writers especially saw three glamour teams in the Clippers, the Thunder and the Wolves, which wasn't exactly the case.


    Start with the Clippers. They were always a shell of a team with lots of older star power--Kahwi, Paul George, the artist formerly known as Westbrick. Without a healthy Leonard, however, that formula was yesterday's news, as the Mavs quickly proved. Simply put, it was a hidden mismatch.


    On to the Thunder. This one's slightly more interesting. OKC surprised everyone with a first-round sweep over a New Orleans shell team supposedly "led" by the ever injured and absent Zion Williamson, which led to the assumption that they were ahead of the curve when it came to being playoff ready.


    Dallas exposed them as a bit of a donut team without enough secondary scoring after SGA, giving Sam Presti a solid blueprint for what he needs to fix going forward. The Thunder are one of the few teams where "watch out for them next year" carries a lot of weight.


    Lastly, the Timberwolves, who have one of the most oddly mismatched rosters in recent memory. They were perfectly constructed to stop the Nuggets, however, with two seven-footers available to get Nicola Jokic off his game. Against the Mavs, though, young Anthony Edwards was exposed as far from Finals-ready, and KAT came off once again as a seven foot scorer who sometimes plays at 6'6" under pressure.


    What Now For the Mavs?


    This one's simple, at least on paper--get Luka in shape, and convince him to play a nominal amount of defense. According to reports, though, Dallas has been trying to get him to do this for years, so that's where the "on paper" part comes in.


    They also need him to grow up. Luka's referee theater routine grew thin when he was exposed to a team with two All-Defense defenders, and at least two more who should be considered for that roster. Whining about fouls is fine when you have inferior defenders, but it doesn't hold water when athletes like Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday are in your grill taking options away.


    Finally, the Mavs need a third scorer. Badly. They got by with guys like PJ Washington and Derrick Jones this year, but bargain basement options like that almost always wilt like March daffodils when the playoffs roll around in April, May and June. The future's still bright in Cuban Land, but it's going to take some serious attitude and personnel adjustments to get Luka, Kyrie and company over the top.
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    Aric Feeney Aric_Feeney


    86 0

    Wendy Minore wendy_minore04
    Just me writing my little story! It's a coming of age story about a girl graduating from high school and not being sure where to go from there. Her family and friends help her out with a little bit of chaos and a lot of luck!

    There are too many people here. It’s a boarding school, and yet, there are so many people and no places to sit. Hailey flutters past with Mouse hot on her heels, as they usually were, and I reach out to grab Hailey’s arm, causing her to do a funny little twirl thing and for Mouse to bump into her.
    “Sorry!” Mouse squeaked and jumped back a step, their sneakers making a funny noise on the floor.
    “Not your fault… Are you coming to the soccer party?”
    “Nah, I’m gonna stay here. Hails and I are breaking up when you two leave this party so I figure I can’t really show up on her arm.” Hailey rolled her eyes as Mouse spoke, and I once again wondered how the two of them had managed to put an end date on their relationship and actually have it work out. They had sort of always known that they wouldn’t last outside of high school, so after the party they would just go back to being friends. It didn’t make sense to me, but whatever, I wasn’t either of them.
    “Alrighty… I was actually about to ask Hailey when we were going to leave, but um, if you two want to stay? I don’t wanna rush out, but the band kids aren’t really my crowd…” Hailey grinned at me and blew a kiss as she grabbed Mouse’s hand.
    “We can leave as soon as I say bye to everyone! Thank you for coming!” I rolled my eyes as they disappeared in the sea of people and I shrunk back to the corner and pulled out my phone. It wasn’t that I disliked the band kids, they were all pretty cool, I just didn’t know them well enough to party.
    I had a text from Leo, Hailey’s older brother, a few from Evelyn and a good night text from Cardan, that simultaneously requested that I tell the theater kids he was sorry he couldn’t make it. More than likely, if I looked at their group chat, he had already sent twenty apology texts and there was no reason for me to do that. I shot Evelyn a quick text that said I would be leaving as soon as Hailey was ready, which we both knew meant I would not be leaving for at least a half an hour, then I settled against the wall to text Leo.
    Leo has been best friends with my older brother Zebediah since he started going to school here, they even opened a cafe together. Plus, he and Hailey get along super duper well, so I’ve become friends with him. His current text was just reminding me to not stay out too late so I wouldn’t be exhausted and sleep through my alarms tomorrow.
    T: I don’t sleep through alarms with Evelyn around haha. That girl would wake up to a pin drop :p
    L: Valid. Have you made it to the soccer party yet, or is Hails still procrastinating her doomed relationship ending?
    T: I wouldn’t call it procrastinating…. More like socializing so people don’t realize they broke up haha
    L: I don’t think I will ever understand those two
    T: You just have to remember Yolanda, and it all makes sense again
    L: Tia, nobody remembers Yolanda like I do lmao
    L: I lived with Hails that summer, remember?
    T: Hahaha you live with her every summer goofus
    L: I could be living with you every summer though ;)
    I rolled my eyes and left him on read, sliding my phone back into my pocket so I could find Hailey and pretend that her brother didn’t just flirt with me. She knew he did though, and it wasn’t like I didn’t flirt back, we just didn’t actually like each other. It was still her brother though, so I was never allowed to mention it.
    Pushing off the wall, I went to find her, sliding past kids I had known my whole life and trying to ignore the nagging feeling of doom about the fact that I would never again see all of us in one room. We would never be the same kids again, and we were all about to go live real lives, not closed up in a boarding school.
    Hailey was in the middle of the dance floor when I found her, with Mouse wrapped around her, and they looked deep in conversation, so I backed away, but Hailey spotted me and held up a finger, so I didn’t wander far, just turned to say hi to Mae, a violinist in the band.
    “You ready to be out?” She called over the music. I laughed and nodded, and she patted my arm.
    “Tell your girls I said good job last week, and good luck in college! I like you all, but I am not about to go to a jock event with no alcohol!” She lifted her Solo cup with a salute-like gesture and then pointed over my shoulder before waving and walking away. If I hadn’t known the universal signal for “Hailey is coming, gotta go”, I probably would have questioned the quick exit. Some people just knew that she talked a lot and did not have the time.
    “Ready, Freddy?” Hailey asked, slinging an arm around my waist, as though it was my shoulder. I looked down at her, and she grinned up at me, so I nodded. The breakup must have gone to plan if she wasn’t upset. She skipped out of the room, somehow dragging me along, despite me being almost over a half a foot taller than her tiny 4’ 10” person.
    Once we were outside of the dorm collection that was hosting the band event, Hailey did a little twirl and grinned at me, stopping me where I stood.
    “Are you ready for the best night of your high school life? Ready to say goodbye to all of your teammates and start your fabulous life as a rockstar?” A snort escaped me and I patted Hails on the head before tugging her down the hallway.
    “I guarantee that I will not become a rockstar if I become anything. Not a rockstar, not a professional athlete, and definitely not an actress.” Hailey had started throwing random jobs at me this past week, trying to find one that clicked. Of course, she never threw out valid options, just ridiculous ones that I would never actually become.
    A shriek and then my name being yelled alerted me to the presence of Evelyn about five seconds before she launched herself into my arms.
    “Oh my god, you won’t believe what is happening in there! Gina is WASTED!”
    “I thought real athletes didn’t drink?” Hailey cried as she shoved past the two of us to get to the dorm cluster that was hosting the “jock people”, which really just meant the kids who played sports, but we weren’t all serious jocks.
    “Gina isn’t going pro, so she decided that she wanted to get wasted with us once before we all head our separate ways. Katrina, Lucy and Cam are a little tipsy, but most of us are sober.” Evelyn punched my arm on “us” like she was implying that I was part of the “real athletes” squad. I didn’t drink because I wanted to be in good shape for the sports and because I liked runner’s high, not because I was going pro like a lot of my teammates.
    “And the guys…” I trailed off as Evelyn and I finally followed Hailey into the party and I found a horrifying scene in front of me. If Katrina, Lucy and Cam were tipsy, I did not want to see Gina. The three girls were standing on a table, doing the macarena and singing Sweet Caroline as the welcome committee and just behind them, I could see Parker, Isaac, Dominic and Justin lining up shots, all four of them shirtless and screaming.
    “Welcome to Hell!” Evelyn cried as she pulled me past the alcoholics and into the main room. Gina was laying in the middle of the floor, but everyone else was mostly just mingling and hugging, a couple people were crying, and I relaxed at that. I did not want to drink and I was worried my friends had lost their minds for a second. We just weren’t those people usually. I normally felt okay about not drinking at parties with them.
    “T! Come over here!” Veronica, our goalie, waved me and Evelyn over to a group of girls who were sitting on a couple couches and chatting. I headed over, glancing around for Hailey, but I wasn’t worried when I didn’t find her. She was probably halfway done with her rounds or caught up talking to someone.
    I joined the girls on the couches and Bea Olsen pulled a bag of pretzels out from behind a pillow and offered me one.
    “Gina tried to run off with them earlier,” she explained as Bea Klutz offered me a carrot from next to Bea Olsen.
    “She did not try to steal the carrots though,” I laughed and relaxed into the couch, content to talk to my teammates for one more night.
    A little while later, Evelyn tapped my arm and I nodded, grabbing one more carrot before standing up. The Beas simultaneously cried no and jumped up to hug us.
    “Don’t go yet! You only have to be up in…” Glancing at her watch, Bea Olsen cringed, “four hours… Oopsie!” I laughed and hugged her back, biting my lip so I wouldn’t cry as a whole line of teammates that I had known my whole life and worked with, slept with, breathed with and basically lived in each other’s back pockets during soccer season hugged me and said goodbye. We would all see each other on the train tomorrow, but it just wasn’t the same. This was our last soccer night. This was the last time I would see the Beas, or Veronica for a very long while, since they had all been recruited to play soccer in America. A few others had made soccer teams, but more local, or just at a college, but I still wouldn’t see them as much.
    “Hey, keep in contact, yeah?” Veronica asked as she hugged me, squeezing tight. I hugged her as tightly as I could, nodding even though she couldn’t see me. We held on for a little longer than the others had, and I buried my face in her neck before pulling back and letting her hug Evelyn as I pulled myself together. Evelyn grabbed my hand as we left the party, neither of us looking back.
    The walk back to our room was pretty quiet, and when we got there, Evelyn squeezed my hand before heading to her dresser to grab pajamas.
    “5 am, right?” There was a crack in Evelyn’s voice as she asked, but I replied just like I had everyday since seventh grade.
    “Always,” I whispered as I grabbed my own pajamas and headed to change my clothes.

    The next morning, when my alarm went off and I looked at Evelyn sitting up, I bit my lip to hold off the tears as we changed into our running clothes and headed out. Evelyn offered me her earbud and I dug my nails into my palm so I didn’t cry. When Don’t Stop Believin’ played, I pulled my hair a little harder than usual into a ponytail so I would have an excuse for the tears welling. If we ran a little slower than usual, it was because we were tired, not because our lungs burned with the urge to sob. When the final notes of the playlist rang out through the earbuds and we just stood, staring at the doors to the school, it was because we were tired, not to remember every day that we had run that same path, chattering and getting to know one another, and giggling as we tried to keep quiet as we reentered and didn’t want to wake the people who put off getting up until the last second. If my hand shook as I handed her the earbud, it was from the lack of food before the run, not because I would never listen to that playlist with Evelyn on school grounds again. If my face was a little wet in the shower, it was from the water, not tears falling down my face. When I got out and pulled my pajamas back on, I curled into a ball because it was a good way to sleep, not because I was hiding tears. Evelyn didn’t go back to bed, she never had. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep, but I listened to her going through her morning routine. The one I knew she went through every single morning in the same order because she hated change. This morning, if she paused and took a rattled breath every once in a while, I tried to not flinch because she was just yawning. When Hailey’s alarm went off, Evelyn was gone, down at breakfast like usual, and Hailey walked over to shake me, but instead she pulled me into a hug, and for once, didn’t say anything.

    Breakfast was a weird affair. They had a line up of grab and go foods as everyone carried their luggage to the train. Underclassmen chattered about summer plans and who was rooming with who the next year and the usual end of year conversations, but I didn’t say anything as Hailey chattered about the parties she had gone to after I went to sleep. She hadn’t gotten to bed until 4 am the night before, and I wasn’t sure how she was functioning. Cardan was standing against a wall with an apple in his hand, his tall frame standing out, even if his blonde hair wouldn’t have defined him instantly. After I grabbed a muffin and a banana, I headed over to him, Hailey trailing behind as she spoke.
    “Good morning, sunshine!” She greeted Cardan, wrapping him in a hug, which he quickly returned. “Ready to go home?” Cardan glanced at me as Hails asked the question and I giggled a little, knowing that in his head he was quoting Harry Potter at Hailey, who would never understand the reference no matter how many times the two of us had forced her into marathons. Plus, Hailey liked being home, unlike Cardan.
    “Ready for you to visit.” He booped Hailey on the nose and I reached up to ruffle his hair.
    “Smile, pretty boy. It’s two weeks. You’ve got this. I’ll call you everyday, and I might even be able to bully my brothers into calling you.” Cardan nodded stiffly at me as I spoke, and Hailey peeled herself off to munch on her own muffin.
    “Hey, I’ll be there in one week, and if T isn’t hogging all of his time, I can get Leo to text you daily too,” Hailey said softly, offering Cardan a smile. He nodded again, but his hand was tapping away at his leg and he was chewing his lip already.
    “One week,” he mumbled to himself before grabbing his bags and leading us all to the train. We didn’t talk much on the walk there, and I fell asleep with my head in Cardan’s lap on the ride, his fingers brushing my hair and Hailey chattering away, just like old times. The only difference was that when I woke up and got off the train, I knew I wouldn’t be getting on it again in a few months.
    11 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - In the age of nonstop news and often limited fact-checking, a new digital news publication, Rantt, is moving in the other direction, focusing on slowing the story down, and getting the facts right, even if it means not being the first to publish a seemingly hot story.

    "We're taking an episodic approach to covering stories, and pride ourselves on slowing down the news," Rantt CEO and co-founder Zak Ali says in a feature in The Huffington Post on March 6, 2017.

    "We want to be the opposite of everything we see wrong with the news media: sensationalism, misleading clickbait, false equivalency, etc.," Ali says. "Also, we feel like we are a voice for the disenfranchised population who feel let down by the mainstream media. Rantt will be the first episodic news source that people turn towards to get the full truth the first time," he emphasizes.

    Rantt launched online in November 2016, in the wake of the controversial presidential election. The Washington, D.C.-based startup reports more than 100,000 unique visitors as of March 2017. Data from the company suggests that visitors to the site encompass a range of demographics, but most of its readers are millennials. Rantt's growing popularity also supports the idea that there is still an audience for unrushed, well-documented news stories.

    The company was initially funded by Tricent Capital, a Silicon Valley investment firm, but their success is prompting them to expand and raise additional funds. The site's popularity reflects the public's desire for and interest in accuracy in the news, according to Ali.

    Public interest in politics and current events surged at the time of the election and remain high, opening the door for alternative media options to serve a news-hungry readership. The founders cite the Drudge Report, Politico, and Talking Points Memo as examples of independent online news organizations that are able to fill a niche and serve as an alternative to the traditional mainstream media sources.

    Rantt.com, includes a news section, an opinion section (known as Rantts), a section devoted to news related to President Donald Trump (known as Unpresidented) and a section called Underreported that provides a weekly summary of top news stories.

    Check out rantt.com to read the latest stories, explore contributors' profiles, and follow stories on the company's Twitter feed.

    Ref: Events - in Blogs
    45 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    Travelers who are seeking serenity as part of their quintessential Caribbean luxury resort experience will find their perfect getaway at Calabash Cove.

    With a secluded beachfront location on the northwest (or Caribbean) side of the coast of the island of St. Lucia, Calabash Cove offers privacy and luxury for adults only.

    The Calabash Cove guest list includes singles and couples, some honeymooners, some celebrating an anniversary or other special event, and others looking for a simple but elegant getaway with some personal space and well-prepared meals. Visitors come from the United States, Canada, Europe, and around the world.

    The resort and spa is a full-service resort: the optional Unconditional All-Inclusive package covers all food and drinks including room service, daily specials, an in-room bar, lobster when in season, and more than 20 wines by the bottle from the resort's extensive wine list. Tips and Wi-Fi are included as well.

    Part of the resort's appeal is its promise of intimacy - only 26 suites, all with a king bed, Jacuzzi, double vanity, rain shower, private balcony or patio, ocean view and cable TV. The resort is built along a sloping hill and was designed to complement and harmonize with the natural surroundings and offer guests full benefit of ocean breezes and sunset views.

    The property includes a private beach with nearby coral reef, as well as tropical gardens and groves of trees to set the scene for reflection and relaxation.
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